Venus Williams Declines Indian Wells Wild Card Due to Prior Commitments
Tennis legend Venus Williams will not be competing at the 2024 Indian Wells tournament, despite being granted a wild card entry to the WTA 1000 event. The 44-year-old American, who has played only two tournaments over the past year, confirmed her decision at a speaking engagement in Denmark, revealing that she was unaware of the invitation before the tournament publicly announced it.
Surprised by Wild Card Announcement
Williams shared her reaction to the unexpected news, expressing amusement at the tournament’s announcement.
“I found the announcement super amusing because, I don’t know, people seemed to be happy,” Williams said during her event in Naestved, Denmark. “So I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just go with it, I don’t know.’”
However, she quickly clarified that she would not be able to participate due to existing commitments, stating, “I’m actually not going. I’m going to be overseas.”
Indian Wells Officials Confirm Withdrawal
Shortly after Williams’ comments, Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas released a statement confirming her decision to decline the wild card invitation.
“Our team has been informed that Venus is not accepting the wild card this year. We wish Venus all the best and hope to see her back in Indian Wells in the future,” the statement read.
Williams’ Complicated History with Indian Wells
Williams’ relationship with Indian Wells has been a topic of discussion for years. She and her sister Serena famously boycotted the tournament for 15 years after the 2001 controversy when Venus withdrew from her scheduled semi-final match against Serena due to injury. The withdrawal led to intense backlash from fans, including boos and heckling during Serena’s final against Kim Clijsters.
Despite returning to play at the event years later, Venus has now opted out of the 2024 edition, emphasizing that her absence is due to prior obligations rather than any lingering issues with the tournament.
“I love Indian Wells. I would love to be there, and if I could have accepted it, I would have been like, ‘Yes,’ but I already made commitments,” Williams added.
With her withdrawal confirmed, it remains uncertain when Williams will make her next competitive appearance on the WTA Tour.
